Bargain Ruck 2012

[nick1408]

I have decided to start this topic a little early this time around as I have seen a few people thinking of using the strategy.  At the moment it will be pretty much a decision of which rucks are worth looking at and which aren't.

Here we are again.  Bargain Ruck going into it's fourth season.  A new team brings new cheap rucks but this season will be a little differentas GWS really only have one genuine pick were GCS gave us two.  Although this may seem small it's the rucks coming back into team contention that is a bunus.  2011 was a bit light on for genuine cheap ruck options but 2012 gives us some real value picks.  My shortlist right now is listed below with what I feel is their chance of being in the best 22 rated below my short profiles:

Jonathan Giles:

Will lead the GWS line but I don't see him being as dominate as Zac Smith last year.  He is more of the traditional ruck and with that I see a touch smaller scores.  If he averages 75+ I would be happy with this pick.  The bonus is you know he will be the first picked each week due to having only an aged Dean Brogan as competition.

Team best 22 rating: A+

Hamish McIntosh:

Back from injury so cheap but does he have a place in the North Melbourne side?  Todd Goldstien took his chance over the last two seasons and has made the ruck position his own and Drew Petrie has become the genuine full forward.  Does McIntosh have enough in him to play as a CHF or will North still stick with Hansen there?  Will North play three+ talls forward?  Geelong did it but there is a fundemental difference between Geelong and North is that Geelong has an elite midfield to deliver to a not-so-elite tall forward line while North has a not-so-elite midfield to deliver to the talls.  As most would know, an elite midfield can overcome deficiencies elsewhere.

McIntosh will have a dramatic price drop but my concern here is if he will be in the scoring form we saw before the injury.

Team best 22 rating: B+

Ivan Maric:

New team and has locked himself into the Tiger's ruck position due to a lack of quality competition.  While this can sometimes be a bonus he has only averaged 66 when the full time ruck at Adelaide.  He is the type of player I would want an 80+ average from but I just don't see it happening.  One to watch in pre-season but I don't have too many expectations yet.

Team best 22 rating: A+

Orren Stephenson:

The bargain pick of the rucks and it would appear Geelong have picked him for a reason.  Another to watch during pre-season.  My biggest concern with Orren is that Geelong have some very good kids who ruck.  If I was the coach I would be trying to get them into the side this year as well.  This is where I can see an issue with Orren's spot in the team.  Will Simpson, West and Vardy play before Stephenson?  I would think so and probably all three of them.


Team best 22 rating: B-

Nathan Vardy/Dawson Simpson:

Both are good enough to be playing first ruck elsewhere and I see them both ahead of Stephenson.  I can't see either being a high scorer so may not be worth picking due to price.

Team best 22 rating: A/B+

Ayce Cordy:

Here is a genuine bargain pick I feel.  Doggies don't have too much experience in this area and I feel it will be a straight fight between Ayce and Roughead for the #1 spot.  Will Minson will play but I think one of these kids will be the ruck with Minson moving between forward and ruck.  Keep an eye on Ayce.

Team best 22 rating: A-

Rhys Stanley:

Entering his third year and a swingman option, Stanley is worth mentioning here.  I don't think you could expect any really high scores from him (~60) but he is an option and should play.

Team best 22 rating: A-

Brent Renouf:

Entering his 5th year and has gone to a new team.  The problem is, will he play ahead of Lobbe?  I think he should but that doesn't mean he will.  If he is the starting ruck I can see ~75 scores, if not he will flounder at the ~60 scores he has now.  Check his positions during pre-season.

Team best 22 rating: B

James Sellar:

With five rucks and and four being swingmen I can't see James playing a whole lot.  Even when he does get games I can't see him scoring high.  Not for me.

Team best 22 rating: D




So there is my current shortlist.  This may change but I would like to think what you guys think as well.  Bargain Ruck isn't for everyone but it does work for me.

[Bluesman]

This is the area i really can't decide on at the moment which way i'll go - there's pros and cons any way you go.

Tom Derickx is one i'm surprised people haven't jumped on also. i can really see him being a surprise packet and possibly being the #1 ruck...despite Maric! i'm just not sold on Maric's ability. Certainly he will be given every opportunity to prove himself but Derickx looks more of a likely type for me.
Have thought long and hard about Ayce also and agree with you.
I can see Jarrad Redden also getting a few games.

The pre-season form af so many will ultimately decide on which way i go (more so than other positions) i think....
Agree with your other summations  :)

[bowyanger]

Orren & Renouf were not picked up by thier respective clubs to play second fiddle to kids that need to bulk up.
Orren is older, he is not a project for the future, he is there to play now.
I think Renouf is going to score much better than last year, he had a bad run with injuries = bad fitness. The ruck spot would have to be the most fitness based position on the ground, its harder for a big bloke to run all day than a mid sized player also.
(most distance runners would be a foot shorter than AFL ruckmen)

[Fyfe_gun]

Renouf and Lobbe are going to work together at port as combined ruck/fowards

Jarrad Redden should also get a decent run

Also keeping a close eye on Broc Mcauley and Adam Pattinson who got rookie drafted by Hawks. Two ready made ruckmen who can climb staight into the no.1 role at Hawks if Baileys rubberband knees start snapping again.

[bowyanger]

Also keeping a close eye on Broc Mcauley and Adam Pattinson who got rookie drafted by Hawks. Two ready made ruckmen who can climb staight into the no.1 role at Hawks if Baileys rubberband knees start snapping again.

Young Lowden started to get into some form for Box Hill this year. He is still young but is putting on some weight.

Has good footy smarts and athleticism for a big unit.

Would be ahead of Pattinson for the #1 role, Pattinson would be more suited to a fwd / ruck role like Hale & Roughy IMO.

[nick1408]

Although I rated Broc McAuley's performances last year I think there are too many rucks ahead of him at Hawthorn.  Pattison I don't rate.  Remember Richmond iddn't deem him good enough for their ruck position and he had his opportunity at St Kilda with Kossie down for so long.  He is also undersized for a ruck.

[Holz]

nick in terms of hmac you say north dont have an elite mid, thats correct but we certaintly dont have a weak mid.

Swallow, Wells are elte or close to it and JZ and basti are taking big steps. The thing is with goldy rucking we will win alot of the ball. Add Hmac and we could have the most dominant ruck duo in the league.

Im looking at clarke as a smookie i hope griffin doesnt get games, if its just snadi and clarke clarke could average 90

[nick1408]

Wasn't trying to say North have a weak midfield, just not as good or established as Geelong's.  I rate Swallow (not so much Wells).  The youth may be developing but they are still not Bartel, Kelly, Corey, Selwood, etc, etc, etc.  I would much rather take a ruck/fwd that will be gauranteed delivery by a great midfield with depth rather than delivery from a less than great midfield.  It statistically means your forwards will receive more of the ball.

I agree Goldstien will be the main ruck but this means there will be limited ground-time for McIntosh.  Pertie is the established forward.  I can see him taking a CHF position but I just don't think he will be a free-scoring 100+ player if he is not the first ruck.

[Ziplock]

Gorringe for a sneaky. Wouldn't be fielding him, but if you're fielding giles, you'll need a 4th ruckman behind orren- and I think Gorriinge fits the bill. Fraser is getting on in years, suffered injuries last season and probably will again this season. They need someone to support Smith in the ruck, even if Fraser if fully fit they need to develop another ruck with Smith anyway. If you remove Gorringe's injury/ subbed games he averaged 50. I expect he would have played 10+ last year without injury, so you could expect 15ish this year at a good 60 avg or so- considering monty hasn't factored in the 10% discount he should be getting, worth looking at :P

[nick1408]

Yeah, I thought about adding him into the shortlist but I was concerned about gametime.  I agree he needs gametime but I still think there are a few rucks in the same place as him - Sam Day, Tom Hickey and Tom Nicholls

[Ziplock]

day is a key forward isn't he?

I don't rate nicholls or hickey ahead of gorringe personally...

[nick1408]

Day was drafted as a ruck but he may be moving forward.  He played ruck in SA before the draft.

[MTTY]

Day was drafted as a ruck but he may be moving forward.  He played ruck in SA before the draft.

Donat want to seem like a know it all with this  :-\ but he was actually drafted as a forward nick. Played mainly as a forward with small parts in the ruck for SA (didn't play a whole lot there as SA had Lycett and Gorringe playing there). Its mainly his size and height that allow him to pinch hit in the ruck but he is definately a Forward and a very good one at that with comparisions to all sorts of forwards like Wayne Carey prior to his drafting.

[nick1408]

Ah, fair enough.  I may have been confused with Gorrange.

[MTTY]

Ah, fair enough.  I may have been confused with Gorrange.

Yeah i think you may have as Gorringe can play pretty well as a forward but is mainly ruck, no worries nick. Interesting read btw mate some good info.  :)